Dial-plate for switches.



No. 863,808. PATENTED AUG. 20, '1907.

H. R. SARGENT. DIAL PLATE FR SWITCHES. APPLIOATION FILED 116.24.1905.

` switch.

AUNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

HOWARD R. SARG'ENT, OF SGHNEOTADY, NEW YOltli, ASSl'GNOlt TO (ilSNiliti/i l. lClIECiltiG i COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DIAL-PLATE FOR SWITCIEIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application led August 24.1905. Serial No. 275,572.

To all whom 'it may concern: f

Be it known that .1, HowAiinR. SARGENT, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented cer- 5 tain new and useful Improvements-in Dial-Plates for Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary electric switches, and its object is to improve the modeof mounting the dial which indicates whether the switch is open or closed.

l0 ln this class of devices the dial usually bears the words On Ofi or the like, and the casing or cover which incloses the working parte of the switch has a suitable opening through which the proper word is visible to in` dicate the condition of the circuit at each position of the My invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive'mode of mounting 'the dial, by supporting it upon extensions of the rotatable switch blade, whereby the dial is supported' at its edges and therefore is not liable to sag out Vof place. I provide, furthermore', an insulating plate underneath the metal dial .so that the dial cannot come in contact with the stationary switch.- contacts, and consequently it can be placed quite close to them: thus making a more compact structure.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure Il is a plan view, with the cover half cut away; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, half in section; and ig. 3^is a detail section on the line 3 3, Fig. l, and on an enlarged scale.

The switch illustrated'is of the ordinarytype of rotary snap switch for controlling dornestic lighting circuits and the like. It has an insulating base l carrying stationary contacts 2 and.'supporting a central spindle 3 carrying the ind ependently-movable contact 4.' ln the drawing, only one stationary contact is shown, and only one end of the movable contact, but the portions under the cover 5 are the same as those that can be seen. The cover is preferably provided with an insulating lining 6.

The movable contact has upwardly extending por- 40 tions 7 which rise above the stationary contacts and are formed into tenons 7. Saidrportions 7 are preferably the upturned ends of the movable switch-cntact. An annular plate 8 oi` insulating material, such as fiber, rests on the shoulders at the base of said tenons. Above this plate is a dial-plate 9 0i thin sheet material, preferably metal, similar in size and shape to the plate 8, and having printed, painted or stamped thereon the words On and Off The plate 9 is cut away around the tenons 7/ to receive small washers l0 upon which the upper ends of the tenons are headed down. The washers are smaller than the holes in the plate i), so that they do not come in Contact therewith. The plate 9 is thus completely insulated from the movable Contact, 4and is prevented by the plate 8 from touching the stationary contacts.

The dial-plateis supported in a position immediately beneath the top ofthe cover 5 in which is cut an opening l1 through which one ofthe words on the dial-plate can be seen. When the switch is closed, as shown in the drawing, the word On is visible, and when the movable switch-c'ontact is rotated, the words Ofi and On appear alternately, as the switch opens and closes. Since the dial-plate is mounted on the movable contact, it partakes of the snap movements thereoi,so that the change from one word to the other occurs suddenly.

What lclaimns new, and'desire to secure by-Iietters Patent ofthe United States,'is,-

l. In u rotary switcii, the combination with the rotatable spindle, of o. switch-contact vhaving.,r upwardly-extending portions. and a dinLpiate supported on said por tions.

2. In a rotary switch, the combination with the rotatable spindle, of a switch-contact having,r upturned ends,

and a dial-plate supported on said ends. 75.

I. in :1 rotary switch, the combination with the rotatable spindle, of a switch contact having upturned ends, .and a dial-piste mounted thereon and insulated therefrom.

4. in a rotary switch, the combination with the roto,- table spindle of a switclrcontaci; having upturned por- 80 tions, an annular plate of insulating material mounted thereon, and s dial-plate supported on said insulating plate.

5. In a rotary switch, the combination with the rotatable spindle, of a switch-contact having upturned por- 485 tions provided with tenons, anannuiar plate of insulating material mounted thereon, and a diulpiate supported on said insulating plate and cutaway around said tenons.

u. In a rotary switch, the combination with the rotatable spindle-of n switcncontact having upturned ends y provided with tenons, an annular plate of insulating mnteria]y mounted thereon, a dial-plate supported on said lnsulnriruir plate and having holes surrounding: said tenons, and washers located in said holes out of contact with snid -dnlphrte, said tenons being' headed down on said washers. 95

ln witness whci'cot I have hereunto set my hund this 23rd day of'Augusi, 100.1.

HOWARD R. SARGENT. 

